Comparison of Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21 - Mom's Bible ...

again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! Andpray ye that your flight be not in the winter.This part of the message is directed mainly to the Jewish people, but I think would be pertinent to all believers in the area.The immediate danger is to those in Judea, a reference to the southernmost part of Israel. This would make sense, sincethe sign to flee is the abomination of desolation taking place in the temple in Jerusalem; this marks the point in time whenthe Antichrist will begin to show his true colors as the agent of Satan. It is the time that Satan is thrown out of heaven andI believe indwells the Antichrist and sets out to persecute Israel.Revelation 12:12-14 “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for thedevil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that hewas cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of agreat eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, fromthe face of the serpent.”As in the passage in Luke, the danger is imminent and the response should be immediate and without hesitation. Nothought should be given to material possessions. Obviously, being with child would slow a person down and winterweather can make travel more hazardous. Again, it’s Matthew who makes the obvious inclusion to his targeted audience(the Jews) regarding the hardship of having to flee on the Sabbath. It would do them well to remember at that time thatthe law was made for man’s benefit, as David did when he and his men took the shewbread from the temple to eatbecause they were hungry (an example Jesus used in teaching this truth). (CF Matthew 12, Mark 2, Luke 6)Mark 2:27 “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath….”Matt. 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, norever shall be.Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God createdunto this time, neither shall be.“Then” and “in those days” = the time of the desecration of the temple.Notice again that it is not just one day, but days, which is an indefinite period of time. My study of prophecy indicatesthat this will happen at the midpoint of the 70 th week and is describing the beginning of the time we call the greattribulation, the last half of the 70 th week.